Method for performing bearer type change of a plurality of bearers configured for user equipment

Abstract

Embodiments herein provide a method and system for performing a bearer type change of a plurality of radio bearers configured for a User Equipment (UE). The proposed method includes changing the bearer type of specific bearer by the network. Further, the proposed method includes checking any changes in keys or Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) termination point or PDCP version change. Furthermore, the proposed method includes notifying the UE to change the bearer type either through reconfiguration procedure without handover or Secondary Node (SN) change procedure or reconfiguration procedure with handover or SN change procedure. The network indicates one or more operations to the UE for performing the bearer type change.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method performed by a user equipment (UE) configured with a dual connectivity (DC) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first network node, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message comprising configuration information indicating at least one operation associated with at least one layer  2  entity; and 
 performing the at least one operation based on the configuration information indicating at least one operation associated with at least one layer  2  entity, 
 wherein the at least one layer  2  entity comprises at least one of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity, a radio link control (RLC) entity, or a medium access control (MAC) entity, 
 wherein the first network node is an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) node and is a master node (MN), 
 wherein a second network node is a New Radio (NR) node and is a secondary node (SN), 
 wherein the UE includes an E-UTRA RLC entity and a NR RLC entity, and 
 wherein the at least one operation comprises re-establishing a first RLC entity currently configured for the UE and releasing the first RLC entity, the first RLC entity being associated with the first network node. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operation further comprises, based on whether a second RLC entity currently configured for the UE is associated with the first network node or the second network node, (i) reconfiguring a logical channel identity associated with the second RLC entity by re-establishing, releasing and adding the second RLC entity or by re-establishing and reconfiguring the second RLC entity, or (ii) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by releasing and adding the second RLC entity. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein a type of a bearer configured for the UE is changed with change of a PDCP termination point, based on performing the at least one operation, and
 wherein a MAC entity corresponding to the second RLC entity is not reset by performing the at least one operation. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein in case that the second RLC entity is associated with the first network node, the at least one operation further comprises the (i) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by re-establishing, releasing and adding the second RLC entity or by re-establishing and reconfiguring the second RLC entity, and
 wherein in case that the second RLC entity is associated with the second network node, the at least one operation further comprises the (ii) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by releasing and adding the second RLC entity. 
 
     
     
       5. A method performed by a user equipment (UE) configured with a dual connectivity (DC) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first network node, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message comprising configuration information indicating at least one operation associated with at least one layer  2  entity; and 
 performing the at least one operation based on the configuration information indicating at least one operation associated with at least one layer  2  entity, 
 wherein the at least one layer  2  entity comprises at least one of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity, a radio link control (RLC) entity, or a medium access control (MAC) entity, 
 wherein the first network node is an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) node and is a master node (MN), 
 wherein a second network node is a New Radio (NR) node and is a secondary node (SN), and 
 wherein the at least one operation comprises, based on whether a second RLC entity currently configured for the UE is associated with the first network node or the second network node, (i) reconfiguring a logical channel identity associated with the second RLC entity by re-establishing, releasing and adding the second RLC entity or by re-establishing and reconfiguring the second RLC entity, or (ii) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by releasing and adding the second RLC entity. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein a type of a bearer configured for the UE is changed with change of a PDCP termination point, based on performing the at least one operation, and
 wherein a MAC entity corresponding to the second RLC entity is not reset by performing the at least one operation. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein in case that the second RLC entity is associated with the first network node, the at least one operation further comprises the (i) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by re-establishing, releasing and adding the second RLC entity or by re-establishing and reconfiguring the second RLC entity, and
 wherein in case that the second RLC entity is associated with the second network node, the at least one operation further comprises the (ii) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by releasing and adding the second RLC entity. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one operation further comprises re-establishing a first RLC entity currently configured for the UE and releasing the first RLC entity, the first RLC entity being associated with the first network node. 
     
     
       9. A method of performing bearer type change performed by a first network node in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 transmitting, to a user equipment (UE) a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message comprising configuration information indicating at least one operation associated with at least layer  2  entity; and 
 performing the at least one operation, 
 wherein the at least one layer  2  entity comprises at least one of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity, a radio link control (RLC) entity, or a medium access control (MAC) entity, 
 wherein the first network node is an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) node and is a master node (MN), 
 wherein a second network node is a New Radio (NR) node and is a secondary node (SN), 
 wherein the UE includes an E-UTRA RLC entity and a NR RLC entity, and 
 wherein the at least one operation comprises re-establishing a first RLC entity currently configured for the UE and releasing the first RLC entity, the first RLC entity being associated with the first network node. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one operation further comprises, based on whether a second RLC entity currently configured for the UE is associated with the first network node or the second network node, (i) reconfiguring a logical channel identity associated with the second RLC entity by re-establishing, releasing and adding the second RLC entity or by re-establishing and reconfiguring the second RLC entity, or (ii) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by releasing and adding the second RLC entity. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein a type of a bearer configured for the UE is changed with change of a PDCP termination point, based on performing the at least one operation, and
 wherein a MAC entity corresponding to the second RLC entity is not reset by performing the at least one operation. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein in case that the second RLC entity is associated with the first network node, the at least one operation further comprises the (i) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by re-establishing, releasing and adding the second RLC entity or by re-establishing and reconfiguring the second RLC entity, and
 wherein in case that the second RLC entity is associated with the second network node, the at least one operation further comprises the (ii) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by releasing and adding the second RLC entity. 
 
     
     
       13. A method of performing bearer type change performed by a first network node in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 transmitting, to a user equipment (UE) radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message comprising configuration information indicating at least one operation associated with at least layer  2  entity; and 
 performing the at least one operation, 
 wherein the at least one layer  2  entity comprises at least one of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity, a radio link control (RLC) entity, or a medium access control (MN) entity, 
 wherein the first network node is an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) node and is a master node (MN), 
 wherein a second network node is a New Radio (NR) node and is a secondary node (SN), and 
 wherein the at least one operation comprises, based on whether a second RLC entity currently configured for the UE is associated with the first network node or the second network node, (i) reconfiguring a logical channel identity associated with the second RLC entity by re-establishing, releasing and adding the second RLC entity or by re-establishing and reconfiguring the second RLC entity, or (ii) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by releasing and adding the second RLC entity. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein a type of a bearer configured for the UE is changed with change of a PDCP termination point, based on performing the at least one operation, and
 wherein a MAC entity corresponding to the second RLC entity is not reset by performing the at least one operation. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein in case that the second RLC entity is associated with the first network node, the at least one operation further comprises the (i) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by re-establishing, releasing and adding the second RLC entity or by re-establishing and reconfiguring the second RLC entity, and wherein in case that the second RLC entity is associated with the second network node, the at least one operation further comprises the (ii) reconfiguring the logical channel identity by releasing and adding the second RLC entity. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one operation further comprises re-establishing a first RLC entity currently configured for the UE and releasing the first RLC entity, the first RLC entity being associated with the first network node.